Aspiration biopsy



Sept. l2, 1950 c. N. FLAGG ASPIRATION BIoPsY Filed Sept. 7, 1948 H Rc1'. ma. E,.0 v NN ls E .L R H H C xBY 347% M ATToRNE Patented Sept. 12, 1950 ASPIRATION BIOPSY Charles N. Flagg, Meriden, Conn., assigner to f Memorial Hospital, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 7, 1948, Serial No. 48,065

' `s claims. (-01. 12s-.2)

This invention relates to aspiration biopsy a-pparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus having a hypodermic needlefor obtainingspecimens of human or animal tissue which are to be examined under a microscope.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the above nature in whicha specimen of tissue aspirated by the needle Will be impinged directly upon a microscopeslidefwhereby `no furtherhandling of the specimen "will be required.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature in whichthe `specimen will be projected from the needle between a pair of microscope slides. a

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature which includes an improved means for holding the microscope slides, ,whereby the removal of said slides will be facilitated.

.A further object is to provide an improved` vmethod for obtaining specimens of tissue for us in abiopsy.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, `easy to use and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very eicient and` durable inAuse. With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated `on the accompanying drawing one form in which the inventionmay conveniently be embodied in practice. v

y, In the drawings, i

Fig. 1 ;is a side view of the improved biopsy apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a `longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view', taken on the line Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional viewon an enlarged scale of the hypodermic needle and the obturator therein.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote` ,corresponding I.parts throughoutl the several Aviews,-the numeral Ill indicates generally a, trap receptacle which comprises a length of stronglglass tube I I, and front andfrear apertured Stoppers I2, I3 of softfrubber 4or other suitable resilient impervious material.

of a hypodermic needle I8 having a, sharp bevelled outer end I9.v It will be understood that in use, the operator may choose a needle I8 of any desired size.

In practice, a needle diameter of .060 has generally been found satisfactory, and the needle I8 may be as long as six inches, depending upon the location of the tissue of which the operator wishes t0 obtain a, specimen for microscopic examination.

Provision is also made of an obturator 20 in the form of a length of wire which is adapted to closely fit within the bore of the needle I8 and which is provided with a rear knob 2i adapted to abut the end of the needle base Il, as will be yfurther described hereinafter.

The interior of the trap receptacle I0 is of suitable dimensions to receive a pair of rectangular glass microscope slides 22, 23 in convergent relation.

The separated front ends of the microscope slides 22, 23 will normally be held in place by frictional engagement with the inner surface of Vthe front stopper I2 on opposite sides ofthe inwardly-projecting end of the inlet tube I4 which is disposed between said slides 22, 23 and will prevent them from accidentally falling together. The outward movement of the front ends of the slides 22, v23 will be limited by the engagement of the corners of the slides with the inner surface of the glass tube I I, as shown in Fig. 3.

The rear ends of the slides 22, 23 are em- 'Y braced and held together, in a position centered in the tube II, by a V-shaped stainless steel clip 24 having bevelled corners which resiliently engage the inner surface of the tube II. The apex of the V-shaped clip 24 engages the rear stopper i I3 andsaid apex is made sufficiently narrow as to avoid obstruction of the aperture of said stopper. However, a central aperture 26 is provided in the `clip 24 in order to assure free communication .between the interior of the glass tube II and the aperture of the rear stopper I3.

Istopper I3 carries a suction tube 2l which is The front stopper I2-frictionally retainsafme- I lin order to permit a high vacuum to be established in the receptacle Ill, the apertured rear preferably of a, larger diameter than the inlet tube I4 and is connected to a strong flexible elastic tube 2B leading to any suitable source of high vacuum. The vacuum applied to the receptacle IG may be controlled by means of a, manuallyoperable clamp 29 upon the flexible tube 28. whereby said tube may be clamped shut or allowed to open at will.

It will be noted that the glass tube II of the trap receptacle I has an internal diameter which is sufciently large to allow the free passage of air around the edges of the slides 22, 23 so that a vacuum created in the suction tube 21 will be effective throughout the receptacle I0, the inlet tube I4 and the hypodermic needle I8.

Operation The obturator will then be withdrawn fromv the hypodermic needle I8 and the nipple I6 of the apparatus rmly connected to the needle base I l. after which the clamp'ZQ will be released. The high vacuum in theexible tube 2B will then cause a specimen of the tissue to be withdrawn very rapidly through the needle I8 and the inlet tube I4, and to impinge upon the facing surfaces of the microscope slides`22, 23.

The needle I8 may then be withdrawn from the tissue, after which the rear stopper I3 will be removed from the tube II and the slides 22, 23 removed therefrom with the specimen o f tissue betweenthem, ready for examination under a microscope. v

The apparatus herein disclosed will be foun especially useful for aiding in the examination of tissue which is suspected of being malignant, especially when such tissue occurs in breasts, necks, or glands. v

One advantage of the apparatus herein disclosed is that it will enable tissue to be excised with a minimum of discomfort to the patient.

Another advantage is that the apparatus permits two specimens of the tissue to be obtained simultaneously and rapidly with a minimum of handling. l

While there has been disclosed in this specication one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to its specific disclosure, but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what impinge directly upon the surface of said ',Slide.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which a pair of microscope slides are provided, said slides being supported in convergent relation with said inlet tube directed therebetween, whereby tissue may be impinged upon the facing surfaces of both of said slides.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which said inlet tube extends between adjacent end portions of said slides and further including a clip for holding the opposite end portions thereof tosettler., whereby the Slides will .be held against accidental displacement. j 1 'v 4. In a biopsy apparatus, av receptacle, a pair of microscope slides, means in said receptacle for holding said microscope slides in convergent relation, `said receptacle having an outer nipple adapted to carry a hypodermic needle and a duct in communication with said nipple, said duct being directed toward the space between said slides, and means for connecting the interior of said receptacle with`-a source of vacuum, whereby tissuemay be drawn through the needle and impinged upon the slides.

5. 'I he invention as dened in claim 4, in which said receptacle is tubular and wider than said microscope slides in order to accommodate adjacent separated endsthereof, said slide holding means comprising a clip engaged with the opposite ends of said slides `for holding said opposite ends centered within said receptacle.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said duct is provided 'by an inlet tube which extends between the separated ends of said slides, whereby said separated ends are prevented from falling together.

'7. In a biopsy apparatus, a receptacle comprising a tube, and apertured front and rear Stoppers in the respective ends of said tube, said front stopper having therein an Vinlet tube adapted for connection to a hypodermic needle, the aperture of ysaid rear stopper being connected to a source of vacuum, a pair of microscope slidesl in said receptacle, the front ends of said slides being disposed at opposite sides of said inlet tube and the rear ends of said slides being embraced and held Vtogether by a V-shaped clip frictionally engaged in said receptacle, whereby removal of said rear stopper will permit said slides and a specimen of tissue vtherebetween to be easily removed from said receptacle. t

8. A method of preparing a microscopic slide for biopscopic examination of living tissues which comprises penetrating tissue to form a bore, withdrawing a specimen by applying suction to said bore, and impinging said specimen immediately and directly upon a microscopic slide which is in the 'path of movement of said aspirated specimen.

CHARLES N. FLAGG.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,219,605 Turkei Oct. 29, 1940 2,426,535 Turkel Aug, 26, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,071 Germany May 31, 1881 y645,134 France June 26, 1928 

